Feb. 10, 2026, 11:13 a.m. ET
A landmark trial has begun in a lawsuit against Meta and Google over allegations that their popular social media apps, including Instagram and YouTube, are designed to get children addicted.
A 20-year-old woman identified in court filings as Kaley G.M. is suing Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, and Alphabet, the parent company of Google and YouTube, for damages. Opening statements in the trial began on Monday, Feb. 9 in Los Angeles Superior Court, Reuters reported.
Kaley G.M. alleges in the case that she became addicted to social media apps because of their attention-grabbing design, in turn worsening her mental health, according to court filings.
José Castañeda, a spokesperson for Google, said in a statement to USA TODAY that “the allegations in these complaints are simply not true.”
“Providing young people with a safer, healthier experience has always been core to our work. In collaboration with youth, mental health and parenting experts, we built services and policies to provide young people with age-appropriate experiences, and parents with robust controls,” Castañeda said.
Meta also cited its privacy protections for teens in a statement to USA TODAY.
“We strongly disagree with these allegations and are confident the evidence will show our longstanding commitment to supporting young people. For over a decade, we’ve listened to parents, worked with experts and law enforcement, and conducted in-depth research to understand the issues that matter most,” the company said.
The case is one of thousands of similar lawsuits that have been brought against social media companies, per Reuters. But only a small number of the lawsuits, including Kaley G.M.’s, are going to trial this year as test cases. Here’s what to know.
Why are Meta, YouTube on trial?
In the lawsuit, Kaley G.M. said she became addicted to social media apps as a teenager because of their attention-grabbing design. As a result, she became depressed and is now seeking to hold the companies responsible, according to court filings.
Reuters reported that Kaley’s lawyer, Mark Lanier, told jurors in court on Feb. 9 that internal company documents show that “these companies built machines designed to addict the brains of children, and they did it on purpose.”
Kaley’s counsel will aim to show that the companies failed to warn the public about the risks of using the apps, and that the platforms were a substantial factor in her injuries.
In opening statements, Meta’s attorney, Paul Schmidt, cited Kaley’s health records, showing a history of abuse and strained relationship with her parents dating back to before her teenage years. YouTube’s lawyer has yet to give an opening statement.
Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s CEO, is expected to be called as a witness at the trial, per Reuters. Kaley is also expected to testify, and the trial could stretch into March.
If the companies are found liable, the jury will consider whether to award Kaley damages for pain and suffering, and could also impose punitive damages.
Snapchat, TikTok settled with plaintiff before trial
Snap, the parent company of Snapchat, and TikTok were initially named in the lawsuit, but each settled with the plaintiff before the trial began, per Reuters.
“The Parties are pleased to have been able to resolve this matter in an amicable manner,” Snap previously said in a statement to USA TODAY.
TikTok did not respond to a request from USA TODAY for additional details about the settlement.
Why is the Meta, YouTube trial important?
The case is the first time Alphabet, Meta and other tech giants will have to defend themselves at trial over alleged harm caused by their products, the plaintiff’s attorney said previously.
It is also one of three scheduled test cases, known as “bellwether” trials, chosen from hundreds of related lawsuits accusing the platforms of harming youth.
Clay Calvert, non-resident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, told Dana Taylor of USA TODAY’s The Excerpt that if the jury sides with the plaintiff in this case, the verdict “could open the floodgates to more litigation.”
“The question really is what caused the harm that KGM says she’s suffering? Is it the content of the videos and the posts that she has seen and watched on social media platforms? Or is it defects, alleged defects in the design of the platforms themselves?” Calvert said.
Contributing: Reuters
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at melina.khan@usatoday.com.
Mike Snider is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him at mikegsnider & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & msnider@usatoday.com.
